Northern Monarchs

[Grkovich, Alex]

Harry, Gloria...
 
Here's another thing about this "remarkable insect" (meaning the
Monarch, of course)...MassLeps folks reported at least one Monarch late
this summer in Mass. with extensive white on the dorsal FW and along the
veins of the same wings...This is suggestive of the Monarch subspecies
(or distinct species???) of the Caribbean (forget the name, but Tony
Moore has collected it)...and is also suggestive of Hawaiian
Monarchs...Is this perhaps an indication that some transfer of genetic
material between the Craibbean forms and our migrators to Florida (and
south?) has been going on???

Alex 

________________________________

From: owner-ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of hpazures at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 7:06 AM
To: gaugeri at wesleyan.edu; ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Northern Monarchs


Gloria:
 
The Monarchs you saw up north should make it, unless it stays
unseasonably cold.  Actually, the Monarchs DO move when it is below 70F,
otherwise the northeastern migration would be severely hampered.
Several years ago, I observed a Monarch in early November, feeding on a
Buddleia in my northern Virginia garden in the morning.  It was about
35F outside, with a brisk wind, so cold that I had to observe it from
indoors.  The Monarch was behaving "normally" (flying about my garden)
except it did "sun" itself quite frequently with wings open.  The night
before, the temps went down into the upper 20's.  Yet this Monarch
seemed quite active.  I reported this to Monarch watch.
 
Not only do Monarchs apparently overwinter in Florida, but they
apparently regularly overwinter in surprising (though small) numbers
along the Carolina coast, as indicated by reports over the past several
years.  This past winter (2005-2006), there were several reports
throughout the winter from Virginia Beach.  These were apparently in
"non-migratory mode".
 
How much we still have to learn about this remarkable insect.
 
Harry Pavulaan
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: gaugeri at wesleyan.edu
To: ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu
Sent: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 6:24 PM
Subject: Northern Monarchs



Last Thursday (10/19/2006) as I drove north on Interstate 91 (heading to
Pittsburg, NH/Connecticut Lakes), in the area of the turnoff or Routes 2
& 93, I saw several Monarchs heading sw. Unfortunately, they were flying
and being blown (a windy day) down into traffic level. There was snow in
The Great North Woods the next day so I hope they made it to shelter. 
 
The weekend before that I was on Chebeague Island (Maine) and again saw
many Monarchs feeding. They did not seem to be flying south. 
 
Does anyone know what the latest dates usually are for these creatures
to make it to Mexico/Florida/California? I have been to Morelia, Mexico
twice in the last few years (Feb) and there I know they don't begin to
move until it is sunny and near 70F. 
 
Finally, my friend at Trenton, FL (near Gainesville) is going to the
Tallahassee area because she learned there are many Monarchs there. Does
anyone know if they actually overwinter in that area? 
 
Thanks, 
Gloria 
 

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